Now this is clever! We heard from Felipe Ossa, a playwright whose new play, Monetizing Emma, will be staged at 440 Studios in New York City from June 17-26, 2009. The play synopsis reads sort of like a steampunk version of Clueless:

The year is 2013 and boutique investment bank Thackeray Walsh is arranging the first-ever securitization of smart teenagers.

Nothing like the insanely convoluted securities that brought the global economy to its knees in 2008-2009, this bond is backed by something far more valuable than sub-prime mortgages or toxic assets.

It’s backed by an A-list pool of adolescents pledging their future earnings. They get money now in return for a share of their subsequent income.

Emma Dorfman’s one of the chosen elite. A shy 15-year-old who most days shuttles between bullies at school, a pushy mom and a fantasy life inspired by Jane Austen, she’s not exactly sure she wants to be “monetized.” But Thackeray Walsh has special plans for her and Emma may be forced to trade her split reality for something doubly scary…and far more adult.

Tickets are $18 and are available online. We might have to take the train up to the Big Apple for this one.

ETA: Corrected the dates of the play. See the website for details. Apologies for the error!